I'm not that bothered about Tyson being predictably so low, although I strongly believe he should've been above Dempsey. I have Tyson at #7. However, Holy has been criminally underrated just as i expected. :twisted: I rank Holy at #6.
There is no justification for Foreman over Lewis. Or in my book for Dempsey to before Tyson. I also would not have Johnson in the top-10 unless historical/social importance were a factor, which apparently it is.
Why not? I would have put Foreman ahead of Lewis myself. Foreman knocked out a top 10 HW of all time in his prime in 2 rounds. That has to count for something. And I asked everyone to create their list according to their own personal definition of "Greatness". It could be accomplishments, style, record, character, a mix between these things, etc.
OK list. I think Ali and Louis should be the top two, and they were. #3-#15 is a good collection; I'd order them differently, but any order of those names is justifiable. I'd have Sullivan in the top #15, and am sorry he didn't make the list. (I'd probably have moved Charles out of the top-15 to make room for Sullivan, but Charles certainly has a valid argument for being in there).
Foreman over Lewis all day. Dempsey over Tyson all day too. Marciano in the top 5 is the only one that's really ****ed up imo.
Strongly disagree, Marciano was the only Heavyweight Champion to retired undefeated, at 49-0, that's a hugely significant achievement.
Against what competition? Old, old versions of great fighters? No good or even mediocre bigger heavies? Rocky's will to win(49-0), punch, stamina, and slugging/swarming style win him top marks as a heavy for me(top 10 material). But he's blown way out of proportion, honestly. The fact that he was competitive at times and even floored by some of these aged greats is a flag to me. How do you think he'd do against a big slugger like Lyle, Foreman, or Shavers? Or a bigger boxer like Holmes or Lennox? What about a guy with much greater handspeed and equal or greater power like a prime Louis or Dempsey? Not well, in my view.
Marciano beat better competition than Dempsey. Also, I favour Peak Marciano against Peak Dempsey via mid round stoppage, & Peak Louis by late stoppage.
i agree...let's look at tunney. tunney's only loss was against harry greb, a loss avenged 3 times. he also beat a better version of dempsey than marciano did louis. his two wins against dempsey should theoretically trump maricano's wins against moore, walcott or charles all WAY past prime. marciano was undefeated but tunney only had one loss to a fighter of greb's calibre. not saying they should be equal but if maricano being undefeated is the big criteria than tunney should be nipping at his heels at WORST
Not a list I agree with entirely, but it's not bad. I have no real qualms over it. Good work Classic.